The name of the degree listed on the transcript will be MA in Interdisciplinary Studies. In addition, students will choose one or two areas of specialization from the graduate programs of study.

Students are admitted to the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies program by the MAIS Admissions Committee consisting of the MAIS Program Director, the Program Director of the student’s primary program of study, and the Program Director of the secondary program of study. The course plan must include a minimum of 12 SH and a maximum of 18 SH from the Primary program and a minimum of 9 SH and a maximum of 12 SH from the Secondary program. A coherently designed plan that does not follow these guidelines is an additional option but will need Graduate Dean approval. In this case the admissions committee will consist of the MAIS Program Director, the Program Director of the student’s primary program of study, and the Graduate Dean. This policy regarding credits in the course plan and the Admissions Committee will be reviewed annually.

The proposal for individualized study must come through the MAIS Program Director. Admission in the program is contingent on a “MAIS Course Plan Schedule” being developed by the student and the MAIS Program Director. The “MAIS Course Plan Schedule” must then be approved and signed by each member of the MAIS Admissions Committee. The MAIS Program Director is responsible to oversee consultation between the graduate programs included in the course of study.

Once the plan of study is completed, assuming all other admission criteria are met (See below for admission criteria), the MAIS Program Director sends the applicant a letter of acceptance. The Primary Program Director will provide on-going advising throughout the student’s enrollment.

The MAIS degree must include a minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate level work. Prerequisite courses may be negotiated within the proposed course of study. Such courses do not count toward the 36 SH degree requirements.

An individualized program can be designed for any area that is mutually agreed upon by the MAIS Program Director, the sponsoring graduate departments, and the student.

The MAIS Program Director will oversee the development of a set of core student specific competencies, such as research skills, and ethical reasoning, that will be expected to be met within the MAIS degree.

Students may request to transfer credits from other regionally accredited colleges or universities based on the credit transfer policy of their “primary graduate program.” A transfer of credit request form must be completed. Requests for transfer credit should be directed to the MAIS Program Director and will be considered on a course by course basis.

The degree must include some capstone or thesis project. Such a project can satisfy up to 6 hours of the degree.

MAIS students are subject to all the policies of the School for Graduate and Professional Studies.

Given an approved course of study, MAIS students have the same access to those courses within a program as other degree students within that program.

The cost of the degree will include an individualized master’s fee of $100 paid to the Graduate Dean’s Office. The fee is to cover individualized advising and other overhead associated with managing the individualized course of study. The MAIS student will be responsible for any additional fees associated with the primary program. In addition there will be a $50 application fee that will also be paid to the Graduate Dean’s Office.

Tuition will be the charge per course of the program in which the course is taken.

MAIS students are permitted to use up to 12 SH hours towards earning a Graduate Certificate from their primary or secondary program. In the case of a 15 SH Grad Certificate, one additional course would be needed. In the case of an 18 SH Grad Certificate, two additional courses would be needed. The specific additional courses required to earn the Graduate Certificate would be determined by the relevant Program Director with the student.